How to get a driver's license in Iowa
This page explains, step by step, how to get an Iowa driver’s license for a regular car and which documents to bring. In Iowa, the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) runs the program and publishes the Iowa Driver’s License Manual. Licenses are issued at Iowa DOT driver’s license (DMV) locations and at county treasurer’s offices that issue licenses. This guide is based on the Iowa DOT’s website and the July 2026 edition of the manual. It describes the rules as of October 14, 2026. Where the manual and the DOT’s web pages do not say the same thing, this guide leaves the point out or tells you to check the DOT’s page. Requirements change, so check the Iowa DOT’s website before you go. This site is independent and is not a government agency.
Independent educational site · not affiliated with any government agency or DMV
Checked against the official sources on 2026-10-14. Requirements can change: always confirm with Iowa Department of Transportation before you go.
How it works
Who issues licenses
In Iowa, the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) runs the driver’s license program and publishes the Iowa Driver’s License Manual. Anyone who operates a motor vehicle, motorcycle or moped on public roads in Iowa must have a permit or license. Licenses are issued at Iowa DOT driver’s license (DMV) locations and at county treasurer’s offices that issue licenses. You may visit any service location, not only the one closest to home.
What this guide covers
This guide covers the Class C operator license, the license most Iowans have. It lets you drive cars, pickups and trucks whose gross vehicle weight is 26,000 pounds or less. Specific license types such as moped licenses and commercial licenses (CDLs) are explained on the DOT’s website.
If you are under 18
Iowa has a graduated driver’s license (GDL) system for drivers under 18. It has three steps: the instruction permit, the intermediate license and the full license. The special minor’s restricted license is an optional step that lets a teen drive independently to school or work with some restrictions.
If you are 18 or older
To get a Class C license you must pass the vision screening. You also take the knowledge test and a driving test if you have an invalid or expired (over one year) out-of-state license or have not had a driver’s license before. A valid license from another state may help you avoid those tests; see “Moving to Iowa”.
Study the manual
The manual tells you to study with the DOT’s online practice test before you take the real knowledge test. The DOT posts the Iowa Driver’s License Manual in English, as one complete book and as a separate PDF for each of its five chapters. It also posts the manual in 25 other languages:
- Albanian, Arabic, Bosnian, Brazilian Portuguese, Burmese, Dari, European French, German, Greek;
- Hebrew, Hmong, Italian, Khmer, Korean, Lao, Nepali, Pashto, Polish;
- Russian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Traditional Chinese, Ukrainian, Vietnamese.
Carry your documents when you drive
Drivers should always have their license or permit with them while driving. Drivers of vehicles in Iowa must also carry current proof of registration and an insurance card (printed or electronic) as proof of liability insurance.
Source: [1]
If you are under 18: permit, driver education, license
Choose where to take the permit test
You need to pass the knowledge test and the vision test for an instruction permit. There are three options for the knowledge test: at a DMV or county treasurer location, at home, or at a participating school. You can schedule an appointment to take the test at a DMV, or contact an Iowa county treasurer to take it at one of their locations. The home and school options are for people under 18 only.
Taking the permit test at home
Students around age 14 and younger than 18 can take the web-based permit test at home. The school does not need to participate for the home option. The parent or guardian first completes and submits the Application to Proctor Knowledge Exam form and allows 7 to 14 days for it to be processed. The parent or guardian who gives the test must have a valid Iowa driver’s license, and the student needs an Internet-connected electronic device that is not a phone or tablet. After approval, the parent and student get an email with instructions. The test link expires after 72 hours, and if it expires you must apply again. After the test, the student receives an email with the results and instructions.
Taking the permit test at school
Some Iowa schools and agencies offer the web-based knowledge test required for an instruction permit, which saves a trip to the DMV or county treasurer’s office. To take the test at school you must be enrolled with a participating school or agency. Once you pass, an email verifying the passing results is sent to you.
Get your instruction permit
The minimum age for an instruction permit is 14. A parent or guardian must give written consent, in person at the DMV or on the Parent’s/Guardian’s Written Consent Form (form 430018), which you bring along. If you passed the test at home, you then go to a DMV location or an Iowa county treasurer location to be issued the permit. See “Documents to bring” for what to show. More information may be required before a permit is issued if you have a medical or vision-related condition that may affect your driving. Instruction permits are issued with an expiration date of four years.
Complete driver education
Drivers under 18 must complete a state-approved driver education program, offered by public schools and licensed private companies. Every Iowa school district must offer driver education to its resident students (except those open enrolled elsewhere) and may charge tuition and fees. Some drivers who move to Iowa from another state may be able to skip the course; check the DOT’s Minor Moving to Iowa page and the driver education page. The DOT has a page to find a driver education school. It lists private driver education schools and community college programs, and some schools may be able to assist students with special needs.
Parent-taught driver education
Parent-taught driver education is one of the options. The student must have a valid instruction permit, be age 14 to 21, be in the legal custody and control of the teaching parent, and attend public school, attend an accredited nonpublic school or be homeschooled. The teaching parent must be the parent, guardian or legal custodian, hold a valid Iowa driver’s license that permits unaccompanied driving, other than a temporary restricted license (the DOT’s parent-taught pages name the other license types that do not qualify), and have a clear driving record for the previous two years. The parent must use a curriculum approved by the Iowa DOT, with course material bought directly from the provider, and keep a driving log; the DOT’s Driving Log (form 431228) is one of the log tools the DOT lists. A licensed and DOT-certified behind-the-wheel instructor may also provide the driving instruction. A teaching parent with more than one child completes a separate application for each child.
After a parent-taught course
After the course and behind-the-wheel instruction are complete, the parent submits the online Application for Parent-Taught Driver Education to the Iowa DOT. Applications may take 7 to 10 business days to process. After approval, the DOT emails a Parent-Taught Letter of Completion, which you need before you can schedule the driving test. A drive test may be required, for example after parent-taught driver education; the student and parent may schedule it at any Iowa DMV location.
Apply for the intermediate license
The intermediate license is the second step toward a full license. If you meet all the requirements, you get it at a DMV location. To apply you need to:
- be at least 16;
- have completed an Iowa-approved driver education course (if you moved to Iowa from another state, see “If you are a minor moving to Iowa”);
- have held a valid instruction permit (or an instruction permit and a special minor’s restricted license) for a total of 12 months;
- have satisfied any suspensions and delays from violations while holding a special minor’s restricted license;
- have a clean driving record for at least 6 consecutive months immediately before applying;
- have a parent or guardian give written consent, in person at the DMV or on form 430018 brought with you;
- pass a drive test at the DMV if one is required (for example after parent-taught driver education or if your driver education instructor asks for one).
Source: [5]
Apply for the full license
The full license is the third and final step. It is available at age 17. You must keep the intermediate license for at least 12 consecutive months immediately before applying. Causing a crash, getting a conviction or violating a restriction delays the upgrade to a full license. If you are under 18, a parent or guardian must give written consent, in person at the DMV or on form 430018 brought to the appointment. If you meet all the requirements, you get the full license at a DMV location. A full license carries full driving privileges with no restrictions. For drivers under 18 or 21, it carries the words “under eighteen” or “under twenty-one”. Check the DOT’s Full License page for all the requirements before you apply.
Source: [7]
Rules for young drivers
Instruction permit rules
With an instruction permit you may drive at any time with adult supervision. The supervising adult must hold a valid driver’s license and be a parent, guardian, custodian, an immediate family member at least 21, a driver education instructor, or a person at least 25 with written permission from your parent, guardian or custodian. As a permit holder you may not:
- drive without adult supervision, including driving alone to school or work (that requires a special minor’s restricted license);
- carry more passengers than there are seat belts in the vehicle;
- drive a commercial motor vehicle, a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 16,001 pounds or more, or a motorcycle (unless you have a motorcycle license).
Source: [3]
Phone limits
Strict phone limits apply to permit and intermediate drivers, and to drivers with a special minor’s restricted license. Check the DOT’s license pages for the exact rule before you drive.
Violations on a permit
With a permit, a moving traffic conviction, a crash or a violated restriction brings a warning letter and possible suspension for a first offense and a 30-day suspension for a second offense. Each conviction, crash or violated restriction delays the upgrade to the next phase of license by 6 months.
Source: [3]
Special minor’s restricted license: how to get it
The special minor’s restricted license (also called the minor’s school license or school/work permit) is an optional step. Once the forms are completed, you bring them in to get the license issued. To apply you need to:
- be at least 14 1/2;
- have completed an Iowa-approved driver education course (check the DOT’s page for the details);
- hold a valid instruction permit and have a clean driving record for at least six consecutive months immediately before applying;
- have a parent or guardian complete and sign the Affidavit for Special Minor’s Restricted License (form 430021), which school authorities or the primary homeschool instructor also sign, with live signatures (no e-signatures or stamps);
- have a parent or guardian complete the Parental Consent for Special Minor’s Restricted License (form 430022), which you carry in the vehicle and show to law enforcement when asked;
- pass a drive test at the DMV if one is required (for example after parent-taught driver education or if your driver education instructor asks for one).
Special minor’s restricted license: what it allows
This license allows you to drive without adult supervision in the hour before and after the beginning and ending of the school or work activities listed on the DOT’s page. For example, if school runs 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., you may drive alone 7 to 8 a.m. and 3 to 4 p.m. Driving for work is limited to trips of 25 miles or less between origin and destination. Driving for farm work, if you live on or are employed by a farm in Iowa, has the same 25-mile limit. Public school students are limited to driving within the school district of enrollment, and accredited nonpublic school and home-schooled students are limited to a 25-mile driving distance. You may also drive at any time with adult supervision.
Source: [4]
Special minor’s restricted license: what it does not allow
Each violation (a ticket, a violated restriction or causing an accident) brings a three-month suspension, with notice by mail. After a suspension, the six-month clean-record requirement starts over once your driving privileges are reinstated, and you must wait an additional three months after your 16th birthday to apply for the intermediate license. Strict phone limits apply (see “Phone limits”). With this license you may not:
- carry more than one minor passenger who is not a relative when driving without adult supervision (relatives include brother, sister, step-brother, step-sister, or any other minor living in the household);
- drive between homes if you live at more than one residence;
- drive a commercial motor vehicle, a vehicle with more than two axles, a vehicle towing another vehicle, or a motorcycle (unless you have a motorcycle license).
Minor’s restricted work license
A minor’s restricted work license (travel to and from work, or to transport dependents to temporary care) may be issued to a person aged 16 to 18 who completed an Iowa-approved driver education course but dropped out of school. It is not available if the minor is not attending school because of graduating or obtaining a high school equivalency diploma. Proof of nonattendance from the school authority is required.
Source: [15]
Intermediate license rules
An intermediate license holder may drive without adult supervision between 5 a.m. and 12:30 a.m. You may drive at any time with adult supervision, from a parent, guardian, custodian, an immediate family member at least 21, a driver education instructor, or a person at least 25 with written permission, who must hold a valid license. Each conviction, crash or violated restriction delays the upgrade to the next phase of license by 12 months. You may not:
- drive without adult supervision between 12:30 a.m. and 5 a.m. (a parent, guardian or custodian can complete the Waiver of Intermediate Driver’s License Hour Restriction form, form 431170, for school or work purposes, and the form must be carried in the vehicle when driving after hours);
- carry more passengers than the number of seat belts in the vehicle.
Source: [5]
Passenger restriction on the intermediate license
Iowa law restricts the number of passengers a teen driver can carry with an intermediate license unless the parent waives the restriction when the license is issued. If the restriction is accepted, you cannot drive with more than one unrelated minor (under 18) when driving without adult supervision during the first six months of the license. It does not apply to brothers and sisters, step brothers and sisters, and unrelated minor children who live in the same household. The driver’s license clerk asks whether the restriction is accepted or waived when the license is issued. The parent can waive it only at that time, and there is no legal penalty for waiving it. If it is issued with the restriction, you must obey it until the end of the six-month period. The restriction is added to the back of the license, and violating it can bring a citation, additional restrictions or a suspension, and the twelve-month violation-free period restarts.
Source: [6]
If you are 18 or older
Vision screening and tests
When you apply for a license you must complete a vision screening. To get a Class C license you must pass it. You also take the knowledge test and a driving test if you have an invalid or expired (over one year) out-of-state license, or have not had a driver’s license before.
If you have never been licensed
You need an instruction permit to practice driving. To get one you must be at least 14 years old and pass the vision screening and the knowledge test. Adults can take the knowledge test at a DMV or an Iowa county treasurer location. The home and school permit tests are for people under 18 only.
When an adult takes a drive test
Drivers 18 or older take a drive test if they have never been licensed in any U.S. state or territory, if they were licensed in another state but the license has been expired or invalid for one year or longer, or if they were licensed in Iowa but the license has been expired or invalid for one year or longer. A drive test also applies for a medical condition that may affect safe driving (not the need for contacts or glasses), for specific Iowa license restrictions that require a driving test to be removed, for a court order, or after contributing to a certain type of crash indicating the need for re-examination. A drive test is not required for renewals or for anyone over age 18 surrendering a valid driver’s license from another state; however, the Iowa DOT may require a drive test at any time.
Source: [28]
Moving to Iowa
Visiting Iowa
A person visiting Iowa or studying there may drive with a current license from their home state or country, without an Iowa license. A student with a permanent residence and a valid driver’s license in another state or country may drive in Iowa without an Iowa license, but must carry that license and may need it translated into English.
When you are an Iowa resident
The manual says that, for driver’s licensing, you are an Iowa resident if you have done at least one of these:
- registered to vote in Iowa;
- enrolled your child in an Iowa public school;
- accepted a permanent job in Iowa;
- lived in Iowa continuously for 30 days;
- filed for a homestead or military tax exemption on Iowa property;
- receive public assistance from Iowa.
Source: [1]
If you have a license from another state
To get an Iowa driver’s license you present acceptable proof of identity, residence and Social Security number, and your driving privilege cannot be canceled, suspended or revoked in any state. With a valid driver’s license from one of the 50 states (including D.C.), a U.S. territory or Canada, you may not need to take the knowledge test or the driving test. Presenting a license from your previous state of residence may help you avoid the tests if you are applying for the same type of license. You must surrender your other license or ID card when you get an Iowa one, and you must provide all the documents even if your out-of-state card already has the gold star.
If your other license is expired or invalid
If your out-of-state license has been expired or invalid for more than one year, you take the knowledge test and a driving test.
If you have a license from another country
Iowa has driver’s license reciprocity agreements with France, Germany, South Korea and the Republic of China (Taiwan). Holders of a valid unexpired license from those countries may not need the knowledge or driving test. For these countries, contact or make an appointment at a DMV location for more information. For immigrant and refugee applicants, see “Documents to bring”.
Source: [19]
If you are a minor moving to Iowa
A minor moving to Iowa can get an Iowa intermediate license from age 16 and an Iowa full license from age 17. For the intermediate license, the minor must have held an instruction permit or comparable intermediate license in the previous state for 12 consecutive months immediately before applying. For the full license, the minor must have held a full privilege license or comparable intermediate license in the previous state for 12 consecutive months immediately before applying. Written approval of a parent or guardian is required. The DOT’s Minor Moving to Iowa page lists the other requirements, so check it before you go.
Source: [8]
Your vehicle
If you operate a motor vehicle in Iowa, owned or not owned, a motor vehicle liability policy must be in place to cover you as the operator. Contact your county treasurer’s office to transfer your vehicle registration and plates to Iowa. Vehicle registrations, license plates and titling are processed at a county treasurer’s office.
Documents to bring
What you need
You must document your date of birth, identity and lawful status or presence in the United States by selecting one document, and your Social Security number (if you have one) with one document. If you are 18 or older, you also document your current Iowa residence with two printed documents; if you are under 18, see “If you are under 18” below. Documents must be originals or certified copies and unexpired, unless otherwise noted. Staff verify all the documents you present, and the DOT may reject documents it cannot verify and ask for others.
Use the DOT’s checklist
The DOT has an online checklist tool that asks a few questions and creates a customized list of the documents to bring. It first asks how old you will be when you visit: 18 or older, under 18 and not married, or under 18 and married (emancipated). The checklist covers Iowa ID requirements. It does not cover the requirements to move through the graduated driver’s license program or to get a specific license type or endorsement; see the DOT’s Under 18 information for those.
Proof of identity, date of birth and lawful status
Choose one document, preferably one with your current full legal name so you do not need to show name-change documents. A short-form birth certificate is acceptable if it is certified, shows your full name and date of birth, and lists a file number or file/issue date; if it does not list a sex, also bring your current license or ID card from Iowa or another state, or a marriage certificate that lists your sex. An out-of-state or Iowa license or ID card cannot be used as proof of identity to get a REAL ID, but you should still bring it. Accepted documents include:
- a valid, unexpired U.S. passport or U.S. passport card;
- a certified copy of a birth certificate issued by a U.S. state or territory (a hospital-issued certificate is not acceptable);
- a Consular Report of Birth Abroad issued by the U.S. Department of State;
- a Certificate of Naturalization or a Certificate of Citizenship;
- documents issued by USCIS (the DOT checklist shows which ones are accepted).
Proof of your Social Security number
Choose one document that contains your current name and your full Social Security number, such as a Social Security card, a W-2 form, a Social Security Administration 1099, a non-SSA 1099, a pay stub, an IRS form 1095-A/B/C, a bank statement, a military document, or any other document listing your name and full Social Security number. The DOT verifies the number with the Social Security Administration, and your number is not printed on the license or ID. If you have no card or tax document, you may give your number in person; if it verifies electronically, no further proof is needed. If you are eligible for a Social Security number but do not have one, you must apply for it before a REAL ID can be issued.
Proof of Iowa residency
Bring two printed documents showing your current name and your current Iowa residential address. It must be a physical address where you reside, not a post office box. Accepted documents include:
- an Iowa voter registration card;
- a valid Iowa vehicle registration certificate;
- a valid insurance card or certificate of coverage (life, health, auto, homeowner’s or renter’s);
- a utility hookup or bill (water, gas, electric or garbage removal);
- a telephone hookup, service agreement or bill (landline or mobile);
- a statement from a financial institution, or a credit, debit or charge card statement;
- an Iowa residential mortgage, lease or rental agreement (leases and rental agreements must include the landlord’s name and contact information);
- a homestead or military tax credit application for Iowa residential property, or a valid real estate tax statement or receipt;
- a pay stub from your employer;
- current school enrollment papers for a dependent child in an Iowa school;
- a federal, State of Iowa or local government document;
- an envelope, box, postcard or magazine with a postmark or stamped date;
- an Iowa driver’s license or ID card not expired for more than one year.
Source: [37]
If you are under 18
Minors who are new applicants, or who are upgrading a permit or license, must also present a consent form completed by their parent, guardian or custodian, along with identity and Social Security documents. The consent forms can be downloaded or obtained at any Iowa license issuance site and completed ahead of time, so the parent, guardian or custodian does not have to go with the minor. Use the DOT checklist to see any other documents you need. An emancipated (married) minor does not need a consent form but proves emancipation with a certified marriage certificate; a church or similar certificate and a photocopy are not acceptable.
If your name or date of birth has changed
If your name or date of birth changes you must provide documents that prove the change, whether or not the card has a REAL ID star. A certified marriage certificate (issued by the state vital statistics office or equivalent agency where you married) and a court order documenting the name change are acceptable proof of a legal name change. An unexpired and valid REAL ID driver’s license or ID card issued by another state is acceptable if it lists your current legal name. Photocopies and faxes are not accepted, and a certified copy is one that contains the original seal and certificate of the court or registrar rather than a simple file or date stamp. If you already hold an Iowa license or ID and a Social Security card in your current legal name, you need no proof of name change, because the DOT verifies names electronically with the Social Security Administration.
Immigrants and refugees
For the immigrant and refugee process, a first-time applicant must provide a USCIS proof of identity document, a Social Security number (if applicable) and two items showing Iowa physical residency. The DOT uses the SAVE program to verify immigration status. A license or ID card for a temporary foreign national is limited to the period USCIS authorizes the stay, not to exceed two years, and the DOT will not issue one if the immigration document shows less than 30 days of remaining status. If you update or correct your immigration records, wait several days before you apply. The DOT checklist shows which USCIS documents are accepted.
How the DOT checks your documents
Federal rules require identity, date of birth, Social Security number, residential address and lawful status to be reverified before a REAL ID-marked card is issued, even for long-time card holders. Iowa verifies documents with the Social Security Online Verification system, SAVE (immigration documents and status), State to State (licenses and IDs from other states) and the U.S. Passport Verification Service. The DOT verifies your name, date of birth and Social Security number electronically with the Social Security Administration, so correct any records there several days before you apply.
REAL ID
What a REAL ID is
Federal agencies require a REAL ID (gold star) license or ID, or another acceptable identity document, to board commercial flights within the United States and to enter certain federal buildings. A gold star in the upper-right corner means the card is a REAL ID. A card without the star is not, and it may read “NOT FOR REAL ID ACT PURPOSES” in that corner.
Source: [10]
You do not need one to drive
You do not need a REAL ID to drive, vote, buy alcohol or cigarettes, access hospitals, visit the post office, access federal courts, or apply for or receive federal benefits. A driver’s license that is not a REAL ID remains valid for all lawful driving purposes.
How you get one
Whether you are getting a first Iowa license or ID, or renewing or replacing one without the gold star, the REAL ID process is the same. You go to a DMV location with documents proving identity and residency, and you complete a new application, assisted by the issuance site representative. Getting the star costs no more and does not change how long the card is valid. A current license holder does not have to take additional written or driving tests just to add the star, unless there are driver fitness concerns. REAL ID is not available with online renewal, so you need an in-person visit with the specific documents. You only go through the process once; after that, the DOT keeps applying the gold star whenever you renew in Iowa. It can take up to 30 days to receive a REAL ID in the mail.
Minors and other card types
Minors under 18 are issued a license or ID card with the REAL ID marking, including an instruction permit, an intermediate license, a full license and the restricted licenses. Any type of driver’s license or ID card (commercial, non-commercial, full-term, limited term and so on) can be marked as a REAL ID. There is no additional fee for new, duplicate or renewed licenses or ID cards that include a REAL ID mark.
Source: [11]
At the office
Where to go
Driver’s license and ID services are offered throughout the state at Iowa DOT driver’s license service centers and at county treasurer’s offices. The DOT’s location pages let you browse all the locations. You may apply at any of them.
Appointments and walk-ins
The DOT recommends scheduling an appointment for the best service, but walk-ins are always welcome and the DOT will do its best to accommodate them. County treasurer’s offices set their own rules, so check with that office to see whether you need an appointment. You can schedule an appointment with the Iowa DOT online in three steps. The DOT’s online forms let you pick what you need, for example a first-time license, permit or ID, a knowledge test or a drive test, or an under-18 permit or license.
Change or cancel an appointment
To reschedule an appointment you must cancel your original appointment first. You can cancel using the link at the bottom of the confirmation email you received after scheduling, or use the DOT’s cancellation page and enter your last name, first name and phone number exactly as entered when scheduling.
Source: [17]
Before you go
The DOT tells first-time license and ID applicants, and REAL ID applicants, to find out in advance which documents they need. See “Documents to bring” and the DOT’s checklist link at the end of this page.
Fees and payment
Fees apply, and the DOT’s fees page lists the amounts. The DOT accepts cash, checks and certain payment cards; the fees page says which cards. County locations may charge an additional convenience fee.
Language help
The DOT uses a contracted language provider. Staff and customers can request language assistance for in-person conversations, phone conversations, and instructions before an on-the-road driving test. The DOT suggests writing the language or dialect you need on a piece of paper and bringing it, so staff can get an interpreter on the phone.
Source: [20]
The tests
Vision screening
A vision screening is part of applying for an instruction permit or license and of renewing in person. You must pass it to get a Class C license. More information may be required if you have a medical or vision-related condition that may affect your driving. When you renew or replace a license, staff can perform screenings or request further evaluation if they have reason to believe the driver may be unsafe.
Who takes the knowledge test
Applicants must pass the knowledge test. With a valid driver’s license from another state, you may not need to take it; see “Moving to Iowa”.
Where you take the knowledge test
The knowledge test can be taken at a DMV or an Iowa county treasurer location. People under 18 can also take the permit test at home or at a participating school; see “If you are under 18”. The DOT’s online appointment form offers a knowledge test (permit, driver’s license or motorcycle) or a drive test (non-CDL).
The online practice test
The DOT offers an online practice test for studying. It has 25 questions chosen at random from a larger group of sample questions that includes questions from the real knowledge test. A score of 80% or higher is a passing score on the practice test. You can take it as many times as you want, and each new test has another set of 25 questions and a results screen at the end. You need to watch a short video before you start. The practice test page also has a Spanish version of its instructions. The practice test is separate from the real knowledge test: the 25 questions and the 80% apply to the practice test only.
Languages for the knowledge test
The operator knowledge test is available in written and audio translation in the languages below. You can also take it with an interpreter, by appointment only; speak with a driver’s license service consultant to request one.
- Albanian, Arabic, Bosnian, Burmese, Cambodian, Chinese, French;
- German, Greek, Hebrew, Hmong, Italian, Korean, Laotian;
- Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Vietnamese.
Source: [20]
When a drive test is needed
A drive test may be required, for example after parent-taught driver education or if the driver education instructor asks for one. For drivers under 18, the DOT’s drive test page also lists a medical condition that may affect safe driving (not the need for contacts or glasses), specific license restrictions that require a driving test to remove, and a court order. A parent, guardian, instructor or licensing personnel may also request a drive test. Adults take a drive test in the cases listed under “If you are 18 or older”. The DOT’s “Prepare for Your Driving Test” page explains whether you need one and how to prepare.
Booking and where it is given
The DOT gives the drive test at its DMV locations. You can schedule a drive test (non-CDL) with the DOT’s online appointment form; the DOT’s “Prepare for Your Driving Test” page helps you check first whether you need one.
What to bring to the drive test
For a parent-taught student’s driving test, the DOT says to bring:
- proof of insurance (required for the driving test);
- the student’s valid instruction permit;
- a parental consent form, if the parent does not go with the minor to the driver’s license site;
- for a special minor’s restricted license, the completed affidavit may also be brought.
Source: [22]
The vehicle inspection
The vehicle you bring must pass an inspection before the drive test, to make sure it is safe and can be legally operated on public roadways. The inspection checks for:
- two license plates permanently affixed to the front and back (a single out-of-state plate or temporary plates are accepted);
- a working horn, turn signals front and back, unexpired registration and insurance, at least one rearview mirror, normally opening driver and front passenger doors, functioning seat belts, and brake lights;
- windshield wipers, headlights and taillights that work depending on weather conditions and time of day.
Source: [28]
Vehicle technologies
During a driving test, vehicle safety technologies such as back-up cameras may assist you, but convenience technologies such as adaptive cruise control may not. The manual’s table of vehicle technologies permitted for testing marks adaptive cruise control and automatic parallel parking No, and camera technologies (rear, side view, surround view) Yes. Even if the vehicle has technological features, you must show you can operate it if the technologies must be disengaged manually, become inoperable, or you use a vehicle without them.
Source: [1]
What the examiner looks for
The drive examiner is there to see that you can handle your vehicle in regular traffic situations, not to trick you, and notes how you obey the rules of the road and traffic signs and signals. Parallel parking is not required as part of the drive test. The DOT advises you to:
- keep a safe following distance, and a longer one in poor weather, road or traffic conditions;
- signal before turning or changing lanes;
- not roll through stop signs or red lights;
- know what all traffic signs and signals mean and obey them.
Source: [28]
After you pass
Your card arrives by mail
After your application is processed, the new card arrives in a plain white envelope within 30 days. A REAL ID can take up to 30 days to arrive in the mail.
Restrictions on your license
Restrictions appear as letter codes on the back of your license. Restriction B means corrective lenses are used to obtain the visual acuity reading. Restriction G means no driving when headlights are required (visual acuity 20/50 or less). Restriction E means you may drive only vehicles with automatic transmission. Restriction Y identifies an intermediate license. If the DOT decides a medical or vision report is needed, it is listed on the back of the license as a restriction.
Optional designations
You can ask for voluntary designations to be added to your license or non-operator ID. These include “deaf” or “hard of hearing”, an autism spectrum disorder indicator, a “medical alert” indicator, a medical advance directive indicator, and a “veteran” designation for honorably discharged veterans. These indicators are voluntary and are not a restriction of driving privileges. If you add the deaf or hard-of-hearing or the autism indicator, it is also visible in the database law enforcement uses to look up a driver’s information during a traffic stop. When you apply, the DOT also asks whether you want to be listed as an organ and tissue donor.
Source: [16]
When you turn 21
If you were issued a license or ID card that says “Under 21”, you may buy a replacement card that no longer says “Under 21” and is horizontal instead of vertical when you turn 21. You are not required to get one. You can buy the replacement on or after the day of your 21st birthday, online at myMVD or in person at a DMV location. Its expiration date is the same as your current card’s. If the license or ID will expire within 180 days, you renew it instead.
Source: [32]
Keeping your license
Renewing: online or in person
A driver’s license or ID card can be renewed in two ways: online or in person. Eligible people can renew online and skip a trip to the issuance location. To renew in person, go to a DMV location or contact your county treasurer to renew at the county location. An appointment is recommended.
Renewing online
Online renewal is for adults who meet the DOT’s eligibility list, and the DOT’s renewal page has that list. For example, minor’s licenses, instruction permits and work permits cannot be renewed online. The license must expire within 180 days or have been expired for no more than one year. A license may only be renewed online every other issuance, and there can be no changes to your name, date of birth, sex, class type, endorsements or restrictions. The DOT asks questions during the online process and may deny the online application and ask you to appear in person. You log in with your Iowa driver’s license or ID number. After an online renewal you get no temporary document valid to board an aircraft; the new card arrives by mail in approximately 30 days. Adding a REAL ID or veteran’s designation requires an in-person visit, but a card that already has either designation keeps it when renewed online. You can sign up for an email reminder when it is time to renew.
When to renew
A driver’s license can be renewed 180 days before its expiration date, or up to one year before if a good cause is shown. A foreign national may renew up to 30 days before the expiration date because lawful status must be verified. A license is valid for driving for an additional 60 days after the expiration date printed on the card; after that you may be ticketed for driving with an expired license. One year after expiration you must take the knowledge test and the drive test.
How long a license lasts
The DOT’s expiration chart for a driver’s license lists two years for a license issued to someone younger than 17 years and 11 months, and eight years for someone older than 17 years and 11 months through age 72. Expiration dates begin to taper down at age 72, and a license expires no later than the holder’s 80th birthday. Licenses issued to people under 18, over 72 or to temporary foreign nationals have shorter renewal periods set by Iowa law. A non-operator ID card is issued with an expiration date of eight years. The DOT’s renewal page has the full table.
Source: [12]
A temporary extension
A request for a temporary extension must be made within 30 days before or 60 days after the expiration date. If you are eligible to renew online you may not be eligible for a temporary extension, and a foreign national is not eligible. Someone temporarily out of state who cannot renew in person and is not eligible to renew online may apply for a temporary extension not to exceed six months. Military personnel who cannot return to Iowa to renew in person and are not eligible to renew online may get an extension valid until six months after separation from active duty.
Source: [13]
Replacing a lost, stolen or damaged card
A lost or stolen Iowa license or ID can be replaced with a duplicate at any Iowa DMV. For proof of identification, bring a certified birth certificate (not the one with baby footprints), a valid U.S. passport, or the most recent USCIS immigration or refugee document. If the lost card had no REAL ID gold star and you want the replacement to include it, check which documents you need. If you are out of state and cannot apply for a duplicate, you may submit the temporary driving permit application; a temporary driving permit is not valid for identification purposes.
Source: [14]
Changing your address
After moving within Iowa, you can get a replacement license or non-operator ID with your new residential address at any DMV location. You cannot order it online at this time. You do not have to bring documents for a new address, but the DOT electronically verifies the address you provide. Iowa law requires you to tell the DOT whenever your mailing address changes, within 30 days. You can change your mailing address online, or by mail with the Change of Address Notice. A mailing-address change does not change the address printed on the card and does not result in a new card.
Source: [29]
Changing your name
Changing your name on an Iowa driver’s license or ID must be done in person at any DMV location. See “Documents to bring” for the proof of a name change.
Medical or vision reports
When renewing, you may be required to provide a medical or vision report completed by your health care provider. If the DOT decides a report is needed, it is listed on the back of the license as a restriction and the form is mailed a month before it must be returned. The vision report form (form 430032) can be downloaded and printed; the medical report form is not available online and must be provided by the Iowa DOT or a county treasurer. To get driving privileges back after a medical or vision sanction, you get a recommendation from your health care professional and then take a knowledge test and an on-road driving test.
Source: [33]
Fees
Fees apply to license transactions, and the DOT’s fees page lists the amounts. Active duty military members, honorably discharged veterans, and veterans with a permanent 100% service-connected disability rating are exempt from certain driver’s license fees. There is no charge to replace a defective license, and telling the DOT about a mailing-address change without getting a replacement card costs no fee.
The Iowa ID card
Who can get one
An identification card may be issued to any person regardless of their age. To get one you bring proof of identity and of your Social Security number and, if you are 18 or older, proof of Iowa residency; see “Documents to bring” (under 18: “If you are under 18”). You can make an appointment to get one.
Renewing and how long it lasts
Iowa non-operator ID cards are issued with an expiration date of eight years. You can renew a non-operator ID card in person or, if you meet the DOT’s eligibility list, online. Among the online requirements, you must be at least 18, an Iowa resident and a U.S. citizen (as shown by DOT records), and your Iowa ID must expire within 180 days or have been expired for no more than one year. The DOT’s renewal page has the full list and explains in-person and online renewal.
Free ID card after a medical or vision sanction
A person whose Iowa license has been withdrawn because of a medical or vision-related sanction is eligible for a free ID card. If a health care provider advises you to stop driving, you can go to a DMV service center, surrender your license and request an ID card free of charge.
Source: [33]
Official links
- Iowa DOT: get or renew a driver’s license, ID or permit (iowadot.gov)
- Iowa DOT: driver’s licenses and IDs (iowadot.gov)
- Iowa DOT: under 18 permit, license or ID (iowadot.gov)
- Iowa DOT: instruction permit for under age 18 (iowadot.gov)
- Iowa DOT: special minor’s restricted license (iowadot.gov)
- Iowa DOT: intermediate license (iowadot.gov)
- Iowa DOT: full license (iowadot.gov)
- Iowa DOT: minor moving to Iowa from another state (iowadot.gov)
- Iowa DOT: driver education (iowadot.gov)
- Iowa DOT: online permit test at home or school (Skip the Trip) (iowadot.gov)
- Iowa DOT: online practice test (iowadot.gov)
- Iowa DOT: prepare for your driving test (iowadot.gov)
- Iowa DOT: new to Iowa (iowadot.gov)
- Iowa DOT: immigrant and refugee process (iowadot.gov)
- Iowa DOT: get a REAL ID (iowadot.gov)
- Iowa DOT: what documents do I need? (checklist tool) (ia.iowadot.gov)
- Iowa DOT: all DMV locations (DOT service centers and county treasurer offices) (iowadot.gov)
- Iowa DOT: schedule an appointment (iowadot.gov)
- Iowa DOT: driver’s license fees (fee amounts) (iowadot.gov)
- Iowa DOT: renew a driver’s license (iowadot.gov)
- Iowa DOT: replace a lost, stolen or damaged license or ID (iowadot.gov)
- Iowa DOT: change or update your license or ID (address, name) (iowadot.gov)
- Iowa DOT: non-driver ID card (iowadot.gov)
- Iowa DOT: driver’s manual (English and other languages) (iowadot.gov)
- Iowa Driver’s License Manual, English (PDF) (iowadot.gov)
- Iowa DOT online services (myMVD) (mymvd.iowadot.gov)
Practice-hours log · A free log for supervised driving practice: add each session, see your total and night hours, and print it. Saved only on your device.
Ready for the knowledge test?
Practice free with questions from the Iowa driver's manual.
Sources
- Iowa Driver’s License Manual, English (M1170, 07/23/2026) (iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- Driver’s Licenses & IDs (iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- Instruction Permit for Under Age 18 (iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- Special Minor’s Restricted License (iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- Intermediate License (iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- Passenger Restriction for an Intermediate License (iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- Full License (iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- Minor Moving to Iowa from Another State (iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- Non-driver ID Card (iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- Get a REAL ID (iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- Real ID FAQs (iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- Renew Driver’s License (iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- Driver’s License Extensions (iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- Replace a Lost, Stolen, or Damaged License or ID (iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- Driver’s License Types, Restrictions, & Endorsements (iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- Driver’s License Designations (iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- Cancel an Appointment (iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- Find a DMV Location (iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- New to Iowa (How to Get an Iowa Driver’s License or ID) (iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- Immigrant & Refugee Process (iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- Driver Education (iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- How Do I Teach Driver’s Education to my Child? (Parent-Taught Driver’s Education) (iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- Frequently Asked Questions - Parent-taught Driver Education (iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- Private Driver Education Schools (iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- Online Permit Test (Skip the Trip) (iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- Manuals & Practice Tests (iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- Iowa Driver’s License Practice Test (iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- Prepare for Your Driving Test (iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- Change or Update Driver’s License or ID (iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- Driver’s License Fees (iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- Driver’s Manual (manual downloads and languages) (iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- Replace Under 21 ID (iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- Medical Conditions & Driving (iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- What documents do I need? - DOT checklist tool, step 1 of 7 (age) (ia.iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- What documents do I need? - DOT checklist tool, step 2 of 7 (identity) (ia.iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- What documents do I need? - DOT checklist tool, step 4 of 7 (Social Security number) (ia.iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- What documents do I need? - DOT checklist tool, step 5 of 7 (residency) (ia.iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- What documents do I need? - DOT checklist tool, step 6 of 7 (current license or ID) (ia.iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- What documents do I need? - DOT checklist tool, final step (ia.iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- Schedule a test (DOT appointment form) (ia.iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- Under-18 license appointment (DOT appointment form) (ia.iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- First-time license, permit or ID appointment (DOT appointment form) (ia.iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- All DMV Locations (iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation
- Special Driving Needs (iowadot.gov) — Iowa Department of Transportation